London’s Iconic Black Taxi to Get Hydrogen Powerplant within 2 Years

For many Londoners, the jet black LTI TX4 Taxi Cab patrolling the streets of their city has become a familiar sight. Now, the famous people hauler will be getting an overhaul, complete with an environmentally friendly propulsion system and a fresh new coat of black paint.

The current generation Black Cab is one of the most heavily used forms of public transportation, especially toward the center of the city. Like many cities however, London has also pointed at the Taxis as a source of unnecessary pollution. The solution to this was to design a zero emission powerplant that would be able to meet the demands of the riders, without compromising space.

Hydrogen Powered Black Taxi

The final design calls for the use of a hydrogen fuel cell fed by a small tank, and a stack of Lithium Polymer batteries. The Fuel Cell powered Black Taxi will be able to reach speeds of 80mph and has a range of about 250 miles. Designers are saying it can be refueled and ready for riders in roughly 5 minutes.

There are currently a few prototypes being tested, with more being planned for the near future. Plans are also underway to have a well established fleet of the zero-emission variants in place for the 2012 Olympics.